Eric Devine

I read this book for the FB challenge "set in high school" category. A young adult novel about high school boys (part of the unpopular group) who decide to perform a series of extreme 'dares' to establish a legacy at the school. Things ultimately spiral out of control and some tough lessons are learned.

Fast paced and well written, I was engaged through the whole book. The author did a good job of covering a variety of teen angst issues - boy/girl relationships, what happens when friends you've had for years start to change, dealing with parents and grades, and then ultimately, finding your place in the society of high school.

Set in current times kept it relevant to teens w/ texts & social media playing a part in the progression of the dares.… (mehr)

So a disclaimer before I start this review: I am not trans, so please take my opinions on this book with a grain of salt. I don't know if trans reviewers have reviewed this, but definitely check out their opinions over mine.

I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.

Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.

I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable is where Avery is forced to present as a girl for a morning. It's written as awful and something that shouldn't have been considered, but it's there when it could have been left out.

All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers.… (mehr)

This is the second book I have read by this author. I do have to agree that this author does know how to write about the tough subject matters. For this I am glad as there needs to be more authors that do not stray away from topics like bulling or peer pressure. However, while I liked that this book showed the real gritty, evil, and dangerous side of bulling; my thoughts about this book would have been better if I had been more engaged in the characters and I am talking about Greg and his friends. I hated the bullies as I should but while I understood Greg's reasons for not being forthright right away with what he witnessed with his past track record and everyone being for the lacrosse team's side; I still did not fully agree with the ways he went about getting the truth. Yet, I do hope that readers take away from this book that it is never right to bully anyone and to speak up when you have a voice.… (mehr)

One thing that I enjoy about Eric Devine’s stories is that they are raw and real. He never down plays the story but really tells it how it is. Because folks, we live in a real world with cruel people. I’ve seen it many times on tv. Kids being hazed in the most ugly, crazy, and de-humanzing way. Kids being bullied and pressured to fit in. This story captures what teens go through today.

Plot: This is about a young boy who loves to video tape. He tries to captures what goes on in his high school halls ways and has stumbled upon some harsh hazing. He decided to investigate further going onto much trouble he never seen before. He also battles with his weight (which kids constantly make fun of him) and him just learning to survive. Really this story is gritty. At times I cringed but could not look away. This kids are so harsh and so mean. I’m not going to lie and say that this story angered me a lot. The plot is good. It captures the reader right away.

Hazing/bullying: This is the part that angered me the most. No matter who Greg went too, EVEN TEACHERS, no one would help him. They never believed him. How could they sit there and brushed him as nothing. This kid has evidence yet the schools used it against him saying it was against school polices. UGH! The nerve of these people. These kids suffered yet no one did anything to protect or save the kids.

Ending: At least the ending gave some redemption for what these kids went through but only because the kids took matters into their own hands. No adults wanted to stand up for them until they did it for themselves. And you know what? That’s what happens in today schools. No one wants to take responsibility and its the kids that suffer in the end.

I really enjoyed this story. It certainly stirred up many emotions and got me thinking. You want a good look at what goes on with teens today, read this book. Press Play is a gritty yet realistic story that is gripping.… (mehr)